Today marks the beginning of the end for the original version of Final Fantasy XIV. Events are kicking off that will result in an all-servers shutdown on Nov. 11 in preparation for the launch of the RPG’s reboot, A Realm Reborn.

The world event that begins today will lead up to the end of the game’s main storyline. This will allow Square Enix to shift focus towards content that will become the new game.

Current character data will save for the last time on Oct. 31, so that the data can be transferred to A Realm Reborn. All servers will be deactivated on Nov. 11 for the big update.

To keep Final Fantasy fans busy during this transition, Square Enix is now accepting applications for A Realm Reborn alpha testers. Players with active Final Fantasy XIV accounts can apply at the game’s official site.

A Realm Reborn is aiming for a 2013 release for PlayStation 3 and PC. Square Enix already released some screenshots to show off the reimagined user interface.